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Programs for Nurses & CNAs

Registered Nurse programs

Nursing is a health care profession that focuses on the physical and mental well being of individuals, families, and communities so that they may manage and maintain adequate health care and quality of life.

What should I look for in an online registered nurse school?

The best registered nurse schools should either possess regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online registered nurse schools based on:

The school’s name and status

The school’s history

Teacher credentials

Alumni network

In choosing the best online registered nurse school for you, you should consider the following factors:

Admission requirements

Residency requirements

Class and teaching style

Testing methods used

Course content and presentation

Program length

Class size

Student-teacher interaction

Technology use

Tuition and financial aid

Transferability of credits

Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online registered nurse programs are available?

The following levels of registered nurse degree online programs are available:

Online Registered Nurse Certificate Programs

Online Associates in Registered Nurse

Online Bachelor in Registered Nurse

Online Masters in Registered Nurse

Online PhD in Registered Nurse

How long does it take to get an online registered nurse degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online registered nurse degree depends on the level of registered nurse degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

Online Registered Nurse Certification Programs – 6 months to 1 year

Online Registered Nurse Associates Degree – 2 years

Online Registered Nurse Bachelor Degree – 4 years

Online Registered Nurse Masters – 2 years

Online Registered Nurse PhD – 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of registered nurse courses?

The nursing profession is the most diverse of all health care professions; thus the classes offered in top online registered nurse degree programs are a wide range of disciplines involving all areas of the body and mind, various diseases, treatments and preventions, assessments, social issues, legal issues, patient rights, and integration of all sciences such as pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, and psychopathology. Some of the required course descriptions for students who have chosen to enroll in an accredited online registered nurse school include:

The Science of Nursing Practice
Accredited online registered nurse schools use this course to discuss the nursing taxonomy development, components of caring, the role of basic assessment and critical inquiry, elements of patient to client response, and the fundamental, scientific and technical frameworks of the nursing profession.

Issues of Nursing Practice
This course, offered to students pursuing top online registered nurse degrees, emphasizes history, trends, policy issues and the connection of these factors with socio-cultural forces affecting the quality, nature and delivery of basic nursing care.

Case Management
The job of a nursing professional has been subjected to changes in practice and delivery due to scientific and technological advances, government regulations, and increasing costs; thus, the best online registered nurse degree programs offer this course to focus on the planning, implementation and evaluation of care in a case management model.

The Science of Nursing Practice with Childbearing Families
Students pursuing accredited online registered nurse degrees will take this course which focuses on the care of families during the childbearing years, the processes of normal pregnancy and high-risk pregnancy, the care of healthy newborns, the use of evidence-based knowledge, critical thinking skills, concepts, the environment, and health as they pertain to the care of the childbearing family.

What areas of registered nurse specialization are available?

Individuals who have earned best online registered nurse degrees will have several ways to specialize in their nursing career: type of treatment, specific health conditions, working with one or more organs or body system types, or working with a well-defined population. Some specializations include:

What is a registered nurse?

Individuals in the nursing profession practice in a wide range of settings, such as hospitals, private homes, schools, research facilities, and pharmaceutical companies. Nurses also act as advisers and consultants to the health care and insurance industries and commonly become experts in areas of patient care such as trauma, critical care, oncology, and pain management.

What does a registered nurse do?

Popular online registered nurse degrees prepare graduates to use their extensive training and expertise to advance the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy, involvement in patient and health systems management, and educational roles are also key aspects that may appear on a nursing professional’s resume. Registered nurses use clinical judgment during care to enable people to improve, maintain, recover, or cope with health problems.

How much does a Registered Nurse earn?

Registered nurses earn an average salary of $64,450 annually. Career opportunities in nursing are expected to grow 23% by 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations recorded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The nursing profession will continue to experience a vast growth rate due to the nursing shortage and a growing aging population.

How do I become a Registered Nurse?

Students wondering “how to become a registered nurse” will need to take into consideration the level of degree they are seeking, their prospective specialty, and requirements of their chosen top online registered nurse school. Every popular online registered nurse school will offer, to an extent, the same online registered nurse courses and training including, anatomy & physiology, communications, fundamentals in nursing and hands-on clinical training. After completing clinical at a medical facility, graduates can then qualify to take the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination).